Diplomatic Office, Royal Citadel.
11:45 AM
The room was plain, yet elegant. Paintings and gifts from various visits by other dukes and even the Celestial Empress are displayed in dedicated glass boxes or hung on the wall, giving the room a rich history unknown to the Elysians. As the maids finished helping the Ambassador and his assistance with their luggage, they prepared the table.
“Thank you,” Anderson said as he accepted a seat offered by a servant. He sat down and pulled out several documents from his briefcase while the Azurians finished setting up their own papers.
“Now,” Farcel said, clasping his hands together. “We shall commence the first diplomatic discussion between the Kingdom of Azuria and the United Federation of Elysia!”
“This is our diplomatic team,” Farcel introduced the Azurian counterpart. “Foreign Minister Ruprecht”
Anderson stood up. “On behalf of the United Federation of Elysia, I thank you for receiving us so kindly and at such fast speeds.”
The finely dressed man nodded. “We accept your apology. Now, for this meeting, we would specifically like to know more about your country. Who exactly are we having diplomatic talks with?”
Jonah gathered the documents from his briefcase and distributed them. “On these documents, you will find basic information about our country and a summary of our circumstances here in this New World.”
Foreign Minister Ruprecht and Duke Kalush took the documents, reading the map and the data inside with confusion and suspicion.
“Such a large landmass… so close and yet, how did the ancestral explorers miss this?” Kalush thought to himself, wondering if all of this was a sham as he averted his gaze away from the document to the men across the table.
“I understand your feeling, my Lord. I, too, have my doubts.” Ruprecht raised his finger. “However, our guests claimed that they are not of this world. The detail of this map proved that as its quality far surpasses any work previously done by the ancestors and explorers. Not even the maps imported from the Holy Celestial Empire could match this.”
“It must be true then.” Kalush comments.
“I shall arrange a diplomatic envoy to Elysia for Foreign Minister Ruprecht and his individuals of choice to examine your land. Unfortunately, my duty of looking over the realm bounds me here, I would not be able to lay my eyes upon the land beyond myself.” Duke Kalush gestured at Foreign Minister Ruprecht. “However, have faith in your ability to uphold your duties.”
Ruprecht stood up and straightened his pose, eyes filled with determination. “I will not fail you, my Lord.”
“That solves the problem.” Kalush nods in approval, turning his face towards the delegation. “Now, Mister Ambassador, I hope you will find the banquet tonight delightful.”
Anderson bows to the Duke. “That would be lovely, Duke Kalush. However, there is one more thing I would like to discuss.”
Kalush raised his eyebrow as the peculiar request piqued his interest. “Yes, what would you want to discuss?”
“There has been an incident on your territory by one of our aircraft, do you know anything about that?”
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Banquet Hall, Royal Citadel.
20:00 PM
Vargson dug into the strange meat on his plate, chewing and crying tears of joy. “Oh thank God for this!”
“You should be thanking me instead.” A voice behind him said, clearly angry.
Vargson turned around. “Good even sir Ambassador! Thank you so much, I have been eating nothing but oatmeal in that cell for the past week!”
“Getting you out of that cell was a worse experience than trying to get the Socialist rebels to lay down their arms a few years back, I have to convince the President to pay compensation and gifts in order for the Azurians to release you.” Anderson explained, his tone clearly not happy about what he had to go through.
Captain Hartmann stepped in, not happy about Vargson’s manner during the banquet. “You’re lucky that they’ve taken an interest in us and the aircraft, otherwise you would’ve been hanged for the crime of killing members of the Royal Wyvern Corps! Any later and you would’ve bee-”
Vargson cuts him off. “Hey! I was confused and scared alright? If you’re attacked by colorful men on flying lizards you would be panicking too. At least I dragged you to safety!”
Shaking his head in disappointment, Anderson exhales. “They’re called wyverns, by the way. Anyhow, this is all behind us now. You both can start going home tomorrow so have a good rest.”
Ambassador Anderson had to compromise with the Duke for the release of Hartmann and Vargson, asking for peace and trade in exchange for getting both of them repatriated. What questions the Azurian might have for these two men they will get eventually. Having the most powerful man in the entire Kingdom taking an interest in you do have some perks, it seemed.
Duke Kalush walked up to Ambassador Anderson, besides him was First Lady Nadine and Foreign Minister Ruprecht. “We thought that we had encountered a potent mage that has created a new magic when I heard the news, until our mages confirmed he was indeed no magic user.” Lady Nadine spoke, her eyes staring at Vargson, not being completely comfortable with the fact that a former prisoner is enjoying luxurious food that is near-unaffordable for the commoners in the banquets' hall.
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“What happens in the past is in the past, Miss Nadine. I’m sure Mister Ruprecht here would find the upcoming trip enlightening.”
"How quaint, Ambassador Anderson." Ruprecht replies. "I've read the documents regarding your country. Your land sounds fantastical if not for the metal beasts you brought as escorts and those talking boxes I see your soldiers wield. Is there anything else I should know before embarking on the journey?"
Seeing a smile forming on Ruprecht’s face, Anderson continued. “Our land is the most developed in our world with many wonders that I’m sure you would find most fascinating. I suggest you should prepare yourself for cultural shock however, it happens to most of us. ”
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Barracks, Royal Citadel.
20:25 PM
“Holy shit… look at them beastmen. Must be around two meters tall…” Private Lewis gawking as he saw a beastmen regiment walking back from the walls after their shift was over.
The banquet has been going on for three hours yet the atmosphere is still lively with music played by local bards and cultural exchange activities. Major Eli is in a makeshift radio station inside a military tent, making sure the regiment’s communication is still secured with the Seventh Fleet anchoring near Sunsettia.
“So what do you think of this place, Major?” The radio operator asked, his fingers still fiddling with the equipment.
Eli shrugged. “Thus far? This could be a great vacation place. I definitely won’t miss deployment in Al-Anwar, spending time in that place made me immune to the sirens just by how many nights they rang while we were asleep. Insurgents won’t let us get a good night's rest.”
The radio operator let out a sigh of relief, after finishing the radio setup, he picked up the microphone. “Contact FES Aletha, this is Camp Citadel, how do you copy? Over.”
A clear voice answered on the radio. “We heard you loud and clear, Camp Citadel. Over.”
“Situation report, the talk is going well, no hostility. Over.”
“The situation is pretty calm over here, too. Only mild wyvern patrols according to the radars. Over.”
“Copy that, Seventh Fleet. We’ll maintain radio contact until otherwise ordered. Over.”
Major Eli Harrison gave the radioman a pat on the shoulder and walked outside the tent. Sergeant Boris is preparing dinner in the truck-mounted field kitchen along with five others while Joker is having an arm-wrestling contest with a half-man half-wolf, his insignia indicates that he belongs to one of the wall guards.
“Joker! Come on!” The men in the regiment cheered as Joker’s face turned red, his veins visible as he struggled with the beastman who barely seemed fazed by the contest. Azurian guardsmen joined in, bringing their drinks and foodstuffs for the night’s social activities.
A voice from behind attracted Major Eli’s attention. “Glorious effort, I admit, but lacking in efficacy and wisdom. Few humans can match the beastmen when it comes to raw strength.” The man in a shiny golden suit of armor removes his helmet and bows in respect after finishing his sentence.
“I am General Kalasta. I am in charge of the defense of Anzuri as well as keeping civil order during any crisis.”
Major Eli gave the man a salute.
“It appears that soldiers everywhere are the same, bored men will always find ways to entertain themselves. Especially when they have few things to worry about.” Kalasta comments as he eyed the familiar yet alien sight before him, his men in golden armor cheering as the beastman easily won the competition, causing the men in strange camouflage uniforms to boo in disappointment.
“You’re probably right, General.”
“I’m surprised you have women serving in the ranks, soldiery as a profession is ill-suited for a woman.” He looks at one of the few women in their regiment sitting alone in the corner reading a small handbook, impressed by her ability to read.
“Is she a noble?” Kalasta asked, curiosity running through his mind.
“No, she’s not. We don’t have nobles in Elysia.” Eli answers honestly.
That answer only filled Kalasta with more questions. Higher education can only be afforded by the wealthy and the elites. Male children of wealthy families received a far more extensive education than females, who are expected only to do housework and raise children. Few get to decide how their lives will be played out. Putting the thought aside, as he was about to ask more questions, he was cut short.
“If you excuse me, General. I have to speak to my subordinate.” Major Eli bids farewell as he walks towards Private Rita, grabbing a tray of hot beef stew from Boris’s truck.
“...That is… fine.” General Kalasta stopped as he bid farewell. “Perhaps we can converse again in the near future.”
Seeing the Captain walking up to her, Rita stood up and gave him a salute, putting away the handbook. “Good evening, Major Eli.”
“At ease, Private.” Eli nods in approval, handing Rita the food tray. “Chow?”
Rita grabs the food tray. “Thank you, sir.”
“You haven’t been talking much ever since we got off the boat. Anything bothering you?” Major Eli asked her with a straight voice, not wanting to burden his subordinate with worries.
Private Rita frowns, her expression visible to the Major. “It’s… It’s just I can’t seem to fit in with the rest of them.”
Rita has always been the awkward one out of the bunch in the company, not being taken seriously as the Elysian Marine Corps have always been dominated by male. Throughout the Federation’s history, the Marine Corps have always won battles after battles in the now gone Malupit Sea, replaced with a vast, unknown ocean. The reform by the Marine Corps two years back that allowed women to serve combat roles was still new and faced many criticism by those who once served, fearing that the Corps would become soft like the Elysian Army which had allowed women to serve combat roles. The Army wants to fill in ranks ever since the closure of the Global War on Socialism that had taken place two decade back against the many puppets of the neighboring Socialist Republic of Yarik which resulted in an uneasy peace.
“It’s ok, Private. You will have your moment, everybody starts somewhere.” Major Eli tries to assure her.
“Wow, sir. Those were the most lame and generic words you could’ve said.” Private Rita chuckles in amusement. “Regardless, I’ll try my best. Thank you, Major.”